Who Would Like This Book:
If you're a fan of true crime, WWII history, or just love a story that sounds too strange to be real, this book has a lot to offer. King masterfully weaves a chilling tale of Dr. Marcel Petiot, a doctor-turned-serial-killer hiding in plain sight during the chaos of Nazi-occupied Paris. The backdrop of wartime Paris adds an extra layer of danger and intrigue, with wartime chaos masking Petiot’s gruesome crimes. The research is top-notch, offering fascinating details about life in occupied France, the criminal underground, and the ambiguities of morality in desperate times. It’s perfect for readers who crave a blend of history, mystery, and macabre human behavior - all set against a truly unique historical backdrop.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller or a tightly-plotted narrative, this may not be the book for you. Some readers found the pace bogged down by the exhaustive detail, the cast of characters confusing, and the writing style a bit dry at times. The focus on intricate police and courtroom procedures, as well as tangents into historical anecdotes, was more of a slog than a treat for some. If you prefer true crime with a more psychological or character-driven approach (or just less French street names), you might find it hard to get through.
About:
This book is an interesting blend of World War II history and true crime, focusing on the gruesome murders committed by Dr. Marcel Petiot in Nazi-occupied Paris. The narrative delves into the chaotic and corrupt environment of Paris during the Occupation, detailing the investigation, capture, and trial of the serial killer while providing a vivid picture of life in the city at that time. The writing style is described as detailed, well-researched, and informative, offering insights into the psychology of the killer and the challenges faced by the authorities in pursuing justice.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Tragic themes related to murder, deception, and the Holocaust are present.
From The Publisher:
As decapitated heads and dismembered body parts surfaced in the Seine, Commissaire Georges-Victor Massu, head of the Brigade Criminelle, was tasked with tracking down the elusive murderer in a twilight world of Gestapo, gangsters, resistance fighters, pimps, prostitutes, spies, and other shadowy figures of the Parisian underworld.
But while trying to solve the many mysteries of the case, Massu would unravel a plot of unspeakable deviousness. The main suspect, Dr. Marcel Petiot, was a handsome, charming physician with remarkable charisma. He was the “People’s Doctor,” known for his many acts of kindness and generosity, not least in providing free medical care for the poor.
Petiot, however, would soon be charged with twenty-seven murders, though authorities suspected the total was considerably higher, perhaps even as many as 150.
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1 comment(s)
The story is well-told and engaging. I think I would have given this book four stars if it didn't feel so disjointed at times. I understand that the author has to provide context, after all it is the events in the midst of which Dr. Petiot acted that form the foundation of his story; however, I felt that the author, at various points in the book, provided contextual details or narratives that were not well connected to the focus of the book and, albeit interesting, seemed unnecessary.
What can you read after
Death in the City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris?
About the Author:
David King is the New York Times best-selling author of four books of history and narrative nonfiction. His most recent book, The Trial of Adolf Hitler, has been translated into nine languages, longlisted for the Jewish Quarterly Wingate Prize and the Cundhill History Prize, and optioned for a television miniseries by a major Hollywood studio.
A Fulbright Scholar with a master's degree from Cambridge University, King has been honored as a Fellow of the American-Scandinavian Foundation, a Fellow of the International Napoleonic Society, and an inductee into his high school’s Hall of Fame.
Before becoming a writer, King lived in Europe for six years and taught European history at the University of Kentucky. He lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife and children.
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